Pursuit home

If your fur baby is too fat, you probably are too

Man’s best friend is getting fatter. The blame lies with us as we humanise and see our pets as equals

By Katherine Smith

Share selection to:

Fat people are more likely to have fat dogs, according to a researcher in the field of companion animal welfare – a finding which raises ethical questions about how people care for their ‘fur babies’.

In an example of how unconditional love can hurt the animal in human care, a number of studies show a clear link between the relative weight of owners and their dogs, and that owners often underestimate their dog’s weight.

They’re also more likely to let them sleep in their beds, and talk to them more.

Keep an eye on your dog’s weight if he sleeps in bed with you. Picture: Vincent Garcia, Flickr

In fact, the tendency of people to “humanise” their dogs seems to be the root of the problem of proper canine care.

“There’s evidence from psychological research that problems of overfeeding in companion animals are related to a form of attachment where the animal is seen as an equal, and deserves all the treats and indulgences an owner gives themselves,” says Dr Peter Sandøe from the University of Copenhagen, who gave a presentation called “Love Hurts” at the University of Melbourne’s Animal Welfare Science Centre.

The more the owner ‘humanises’ the companion, the more likely it is to be fat, and the more likely they are to see feeding as the central care-giving and communication task

Dr Sandøe says while keeping dogs, cats and other animals as companions obviously contributes to quality of life for humans, and benefits the animals involved, there’s a ‘dark side’ to human attachment to companion animals.

“Even being moderately overweight seems to have a significant effect in terms of longevity of companion animals,” Dr Sandøe says, “and definitely impacts the animal’s quality of life.”

And while restrictive feeding is physiologically optimal for health in dogs, it can also lead to stress and have negative impacts.

“The challenge for responsible owners is to get the balance right between creating a situation of freedom from hunger and freedom from disease for the dog,” he says.

Dr Leonie Richards who is Head of General Practice at U-Vet, the University of Melbourne’s animal hospital, says about one third of dogs that come to her clinic are overweight, some dangerously so, while there are many others who, like most of us, could benefit from losing a few kilos.

“Overfeeding and inactivity are the obvious culprits, but some dogs are also very good at manipulating their owners,” Dr Richards says.

People feel guilted by those big brown eyes and offer food treats instead of other lovely rewards like cuddles or walks and games

She says there is also sometimes a cultural aspect to dogs being overweight, in particular in certain European cultures where loved ones, especially children - and by extension, pets - are encouraged to eat a lot.

“A dog shouldn’t look like a coffee table,” Dr Richards says.

“You should be able to see a waistline, see the ribs and feel the backbone, and that applies to all breeds. People can get used to seeing some breeds, like Labradors or Staffordshire terriers, carrying extra weight, but there’s no breed that’s not adversely affected by being overweight.”

Dr Richards says commercial dog food always includes feeding guides, and your vet can also advise, but it’s pretty obvious if a dog is being overfed.

In addition, a walk every single day is necessary, even for tiny dogs like Chihuahuas.

“A big back yard doesn’t work because the dog is familiar with it, meaning they aren’t stimulated to exercise very much,” Dr Richards says.

“A walk is also an important part of your dog’s social life, and won’t do the health and happiness of owners any harm either.”

Privacy Statement

The University of Melbourne (University) collects, uses, handles and discloses personal information in accordance with the Privacy and Data Protection Act 2014 (Vic) (Act) and other applicable legislation.

This Privacy Statement relates only to the collection of personal information in relation to the Pursuit Website. Please refer to our Privacy Policy and Privacy Statement for the University of Melbourne Website for information in relation to the broader practices in relation to the collection, use handling and disclosure of personal information by the University.

Definition of Personal Information

“Personal information” is defined under the Act to mean information or an opinion (including information or an opinion forming part of a database), that is recorded in any form and whether true or not, about an individual whose identity is apparent, or can reasonably be ascertained, from the information or opinion, but does not include information of a kind to which the Health Records Act 2001(Vic) applies.

Collection of Personal Information by the University in relation to Pursuit

The University may collect, store and handle personal information about you including but not limited to your name and email address for the sole purpose of allowing you to subscribe to Pursuit’s weekly digest of cutting-edge research findings and expert commentary.

Disclosure of Personal Information

The University would seek your prior written consent before using your personal information for any purpose other than that which is described above and before disclosing your personal information to any third party.

Access to Your Personal Information

You can access any personal information the University holds about you by contacting the University’s Privacy Officer at privacy-officer@unimelb.edu.au.